BZFlagWiki - User contributions [en]

Different Mouse Settings

2007-03-30T07:24:22Z

Alphamugwump:

{{inaccurate}}
The cursor movement controls the [[Tank]] which is controlled by the operating system the game runs on. The driver are giving different setup possibilities. This article covers some parts of those.

== Overview ==

The acceleration of your tank is controlled by moving the cursor in the little box on the [[HUD]]. This determines how fast the cursor is moving on the screen.

== Different Mousebox Sizes==

{|{{Prettytable}}
|-
| {{Hl3}} |'''Mousebox size'''
| {{Hl3}} |'''Pros'''
| {{Hl3}} |'''Cons'''
|-

|Big Mousebox
|Driver has more precise control over the tank. Good for climbing on buildings and avoiding falling from buildings.
|The cursor takes longer to travel around the whole box. This leads to the tank accelerating slower into the next direction => you can dodge bullets, but with |great difficulty and effort
|-
|Little Mousebox
| It enables you to dodge bullets with much less movement, therefore more quickly.
|It is also much easier to accidentally fall down from buildings.
|-
|Middle Mousebox Size
|A happy- medium of precision and reaction speed. Can be used to dodge bullets relatively well. Falling down from buildings is much rarer than when using a miniscule mousebox
|You end up getting neither the absolute control nor the best reaction time.
|}

== Different Cursor Settings ==
{|{{Prettytable}}
|-
| {{Hl3}} |'''Cursor movement'''
| {{Hl3}} |'''Pros'''
| {{Hl3}} |'''Cons'''
| {{Hl3}} |'''Good Mousebox in combination'''
|-
|Fast Cursor
|Very good to dodge bullets.
|Risky to drive around on buildings.
|Big or middle mousebox. Only use a small mousebox if you don't jump often.
|-
|Slow Cursor
|Good for doing complicated jumps.
|Hard to dodge incoming bullets.
|Small or middle mousebox. A big mousebox is suicide!
|-
|Middle Cursor Speed
|Can be used to dodge much incoming bullets. Driving on buildings is not dangerous.
|Occasionally you can't dodge or fall down from a building.
|Big, middle and small mouseboxes can be used.
|}

== Platform differences ==

=== Cursor Speed ===
Speed is a linear factor added to your cursor movement. The cursor is constantly faster/slower.

=== Cursor Acceleration ===
Acceleration is a multiplier to your cursor movement. High impact to cursor movement when moving the mouse fast, slow impact when moving the mouse slower.

=== I'm on Mac OS X - Others seem to have an advantage ===

The only real advantage they have is the agility flag. Other platforms use different acceleration parameters; thus, they may find it easier to drive a straight line and then jump with the agility flag so that they can escape easier. With the Mac's mouse acceleration you gain some other advantages against the other player, like you will always be able to react quicker than them and can move more precisely when you move your cursor slower.

Both Macs and PCs use mouse acceleration; they simply use different functions to calculate the mouse position. In addition, different versions of the same platform can also have different acceleration. There are tools available for both platforms for configuring the acceleration, if you don't like the defaults.

All that talk about acceleration and speed may sound strange to you - with drivers like [http://plentycom.jp/en/steermouse/ SteerMouse] and [http://www.usboverdrive.com/ USBOverdrive] you can quickly get a feeling for the difference. If you are using Windows, you can tweak the parameters by editing the registry keys in HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Mouse.

A good mouse and mousepad might also make a difference; a wired optical mouse will usually perform better than a ball mouse or a wireless mouse. A quality gaming mouse might be helpful, but in general, you need to consider whether the additional cost (often hundreds of dollars) is really worth it.

==External Links==
[http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/device/input/pointer-bal.mspx Windows Pointer Ballistics]

[[Category:Tactics]]
[[Category:Client]]

Talk:Different Mouse Settings

2007-03-30T07:19:09Z

Alphamugwump:

What is with the whole thing on Mac OS X, which claims only Mac OS X uses 'mouse acceleration'. In fact, Windoze has for a very long time, as has X11. And the terms aren't very accurate anyway, it seems - anyone know about what is being talked about here? Is this old stuff from the old wiki? [[User:TD-Linux|TD-Linux]] 20:29, 20 March 2007 (EDT)
:The "I'm on Mac OS X - Others seem to have an advantage" section is about a post at bzbb. The poster wondered about why opponents could use the agility flag a lot better than he.

:It looks to me like Windows® uses mouse speed by default and no, this is not copied from the old wiki.

:In case you know better about Windows® then feel free to explain it in the article. :) [[User:Ts|Ts]] 11:23, 21 March 2007 (MEZ)

:Windows has used acceleration for a while. It's just different. Not that I can tell the difference, but I'm not much of a gamer.--[[User:Alphamugwump|Alphamugwump]] 03:19, 30 March 2007 (EDT)

Different Mouse Settings

2007-03-30T07:10:41Z

Alphamugwump: fixed the mouse thing

Jumping

2007-03-30T06:21:12Z

Alphamugwump: /* Reversing */

As you may know jumping can save you at times, but when your first starting out jump as little as possible learn how to dodge first.

== Basic Tactics ==
With the default server settings, a tank can jump 18 units high which takes about four seconds. That's four seconds of uncontrollable flying, during which time opponents on the ground can get an easily aimed shot when you land. You can do some thing against this:

* Force the opponent(s) to jump.
* Try to jump to higher ground - this reduces fly time. Remember that the open field is hostile, if you're over-powered, it is probably a good idea to find shelter.
* Don't jump from high to low. Instead, fall to save time.
* Jump around or over the enemy to force him to turn as much as possible.
* Jump and turn to try and get a shot off at the enemy when you land.

== More Advanced Tactics ==
Learning some of the more innovative jumps can give you a real edge on servers in which jumping plays a vital role.

=== Rotational Jumps ===
A common tactic against tanks that are on boxes a jumpable distance above you, is to drive parallel to the block and then jump while turning slowly towards your opponent. If you time it right, your barrel will track him as you fly past. You can then fairly easily shoot the tank, whereas he will have a harder time targeting you. This is also frequently referred to as a "Strafe Jump", even though it has nothing to do with strafing, and is nothing like a strafe jump in Quake.

=== Quick Turn ===
While in the air without a flag you can often turn a full 180 degrees. With Quick Turn, you can turn a full 360 degrees. At the top of your jump you are actually at 180 degrees. It is possible to force an opponent to jump, rotate the 180 degrees with Quick Turn, shoot, kill them in the air, and continue as if nothing happened.

=== Limiting a Jump ===
If you jump while underneath something, you will not go as high. Thus, you will spend less time in the air, and be at less risk. It can be a signifigant advantage to camp underneath a bridge.

=== Oscillation Overthruster ===
With Oscillation Overthruster, you cannot jump while sealed, and you cannot drive backwards into a block. However, you can jump backwards onto a block, and fall through the floor. This is a common means of OO camping, especially on Overlord. You can also jump from one building to another, which is another good way to limit exposure.

=== Reversing ===
If a noob is chasing you, you can sometimes kill them by throwing your tank into reverse and jumping straight backwards. You land behind them, and can then kill them with ease. This sort of behavior is often completely unexpected. Similarly, you can fire off a ricochet, and then jump over your own shot.

=== Dropping Flags ===
If you drop a team flag while jumping over a pyramid, it counts as an "illegal location". That is, the game will prevent the flag from landing there. Instead, it will send the flag to some designated location. On some servers, this is a quick way to return the flag to your base.

=== The Mofo Trick ===
Want to jump from one platform to a platform directly above? To do this trick, it helps to zoom in the radar until you tank clearly appears as a rectangle. Then, drive your tank until it is just perched on the edge. Jump straight up, while turning slowly. If everything is done right, your tank will not hit the upper platform, and will instead pass it sideways. Your tank will then be one level higher. Keep in mind that you are very vulnerable if you are not paying attention while doing this.

[[Category:Tactics]]

Jumping

2007-03-30T06:19:35Z

Alphamugwump: added some jumping techniques

As you may know jumping can save you at times, but when your first starting out jump as little as possible learn how to dodge first.

== Basic Tactics ==
With the default server settings, a tank can jump 18 units high which takes about four seconds. That's four seconds of uncontrollable flying, during which time opponents on the ground can get an easily aimed shot when you land. You can do some thing against this:

* Force the opponent(s) to jump.
* Try to jump to higher ground - this reduces fly time. Remember that the open field is hostile, if you're over-powered, it is probably a good idea to find shelter.
* Don't jump from high to low. Instead, fall to save time.
* Jump around or over the enemy to force him to turn as much as possible.
* Jump and turn to try and get a shot off at the enemy when you land.

== More Advanced Tactics ==
Learning some of the more innovative jumps can give you a real edge on servers in which jumping plays a vital role.

=== Rotational Jumps ===
A common tactic against tanks that are on boxes a jumpable distance above you, is to drive parallel to the block and then jump while turning slowly towards your opponent. If you time it right, your barrel will track him as you fly past. You can then fairly easily shoot the tank, whereas he will have a harder time targeting you. This is also frequently referred to as a "Strafe Jump", even though it has nothing to do with strafing, and is nothing like a strafe jump in Quake.

=== Quick Turn ===
While in the air without a flag you can often turn a full 180 degrees. With Quick Turn, you can turn a full 360 degrees. At the top of your jump you are actually at 180 degrees. It is possible to force an opponent to jump, rotate the 180 degrees with Quick Turn, shoot, kill them in the air, and continue as if nothing happened.

=== Limiting a Jump ===
If you jump while underneath something, you will not go as high. Thus, you will spend less time in the air, and be at less risk. It can be a signifigant advantage to camp underneath a bridge.

=== Oscillation Overthruster ===
With Oscillation Overthruster, you cannot jump while sealed, and you cannot drive backwards into a block. However, you can jump backwards onto a block, and fall through the floor. This is a common means of OO camping, especially on Overlord. You can also jump from one building to another, which is another good way to limit exposure.

=== Reversing ===
If a noob is chasing you, you can sometimes kill them by throwing your tank into reverse and jumping straight backwards. You land behind them, and can then kill them with ease. This sort of behavior is often completely unexpected. Similarly, you can fire off a ricochet, and then jump over your own shot. But this only works on noobs.

=== Dropping Flags ===
If you drop a team flag while jumping over a pyramid, it counts as an "illegal location". That is, the game will prevent the flag from landing there. Instead, it will send the flag to some designated location. On some servers, this is a quick way to return the flag to your base.

=== The Mofo Trick ===
Want to jump from one platform to a platform directly above? To do this trick, it helps to zoom in the radar until you tank clearly appears as a rectangle. Then, drive your tank until it is just perched on the edge. Jump straight up, while turning slowly. If everything is done right, your tank will not hit the upper platform, and will instead pass it sideways. Your tank will then be one level higher. Keep in mind that you are very vulnerable if you are not paying attention while doing this.

[[Category:Tactics]]

Staying Alive

2007-03-30T05:50:05Z

Alphamugwump:

= Staying Alive =
One of the most important objectives in BZFlag is to stay alive (if not '''the''' most important!) "Staying alive" means "not getting your tank blown up", because when it's blown up, you can't have fun driving around shooting the enemy tanks, which is why you play BZFlag in the first place, right? On the positive side, you're only "dead" for about 3 seconds, and after that you can get back into the mayhem.
There are several ways to die in BZFlag:

* You get shot
* Wholesale kill, i.e:
** Your team flag gets captured by an opposing team in a [[Capture The Flag]] ([[Capture The Flag|CTF]]) match
** One of your teammates is hit by [[Genocide]]
* You self-destruct
* Death [[Physics|physics drivers]]
* An admin executes a /kill command

So, your best chances of staying alive basically boils down to avoiding these 2 situations; getting shot, and getting your team flag captured by the enemy - avoiding to self-destruct is easy; just don't hit the DEL ("delete") button. Normally map makers will make it clear where death physics are, and there's not much you can do about the trigger happy admins.

== Avoid getting shot ==
An obvious way to avoid getting shot, is to stay away from tanks that might fire shots at you. However, this is not very desirable (if you are out of their firing range, they are out of yours, and thus you can't blow up other tanks which is the fun part!). And it's not possible to hide forever, so you will eventually have to deal with situations where bullets are coming in your direction...

=== Shooting yourself ===
It's possible for you to blow up your own tank by shooting yourself. This can be done on maps where bullets can ricochet, which means that a bullet hits something, like a wall or a building for instance, and then springs off in a new direction, which is in a parallel angle if ricocheting off a vertical surface. So if you fire directly at a wall in a game where the ricochet option is "on", the bullet will spring back and possibly hit your own tank, thus blowing it up!
If you shoot yourself (by accident or otherwise) you see a message saying "shot myself", your body-count will go up, and everyone else on the server gets to laugh at you.

You can avoid this by giving your shooting a little thought, i.e. don't stand close to solid objects (like buildings and walls) while firing directly at them, or fire at them in sharp angles, sending your bullets away from you even after the ricochet.

Also, be very, very careful when firing off a laser on the ground level.

=== Friendly fire ===
Not only can you shoot yourself, your teammates, your brothers in arms, can shoot you as well on most servers! Keep in mind that, if you are stealthed, you are much less visible to your teammates, and are likely to get shot if you stand in their way.

=== Dodging ===
==== Bullets ====
Dodging shots in BZFlag requires a different technique than most other games. The key to dodging shots in BZFlag is to face at an angle from the person shooting at you. That way, you can avoid the shots completely, or slip in between them. If you are facing straight at your opponent then you must turn to avoid their shots, which wastes precious time.

Of course, if you are facing away from your opponent, it is difficult to shoot them. Thus, you want to time your approach so that you are facing towards them when they are out of shots, and you are facing away from them when they are shooting at you.

==== Guided Missiles ====
Somebody has fired a GM at you, and it is bearing down fast. What do you do? You drive full speed in a circle perpendicular to the player firing the GM. Watch their frustration as the GMs miss the rear of your tank by a fraction. Keep driving until you're out of range or out of space to drive. This is particularly effective against stationary GM users. With practice, you can develop this method by moving in a spiral, gradually reducing the distance as you drive around the GMer. This way, you can close in and hopefully take a shot at them. Also, keep in mind that the GMer can't lock on you if you are too close to him, making you nearly invulnerable.

=== Jumping ===
[[Jumping]] in order to avoid enemy fire is generally considered a bad idea, unless the jump is such that you land in a less accessible place (for example on top of a box). Jumping in the open makes you unbelievably venerable to being shot, as all the enemy tanks need to do is fire off a few shots in your direction just before you land. Don't do it unless it's your final option.

For further information on jumping tactics, see [[Jumping]]

=== Common Sense ===
By exersizing a little caution, you can avoid many deaths. Keep an eye on the radar, especially when rounding corners. But also, keep an eye on the screen, in case somebody is stealthed. Identify people's flags. Never ever try to jump in a battle against a wings. If there is a laser running loose on the ground level, go someplace high and wait for him to kill himself. When going against a GM, hide behind buildings, if there are any. Keep your distance from shockwaves. Be careful around teleports; shockwaves and phantom zones like to camp there. And don't let yourself be hit by a geno; because then everyone will hate you. Finally, be on the lookout for tanks acting strangely (driving straight at you, for example). They probably have some special flag: wings, shockwave, or masquerade.

== Prevent the enemy from capturing your teams flag ==
This one is relatively simple. If an enemy picks up your team's flag, shoot him!

== A note on self destruction ==
Some people self-destruct in order to avoid getting shot. This may sound a bit strange at first, but the idea is that if you self destruct and thus avoid getting shot, you prevent your enemy from getting a hit point as a result of shooting you - and keeping your enemies hit count down is desirable.

But...

'''Please don't do this!'''

It is generally frowned upon - if your enemy has you cornered, and your destruction is the only possible result in this situation, then of course he deserves the point. So please, either fight your way out, or die with honor!

[[Category:Tactics]]